In a painstaking process this alternate history storyline has been researched and is presented for your entertainment.
By using historical documents from the US Joint Chiefs of Staff we know exactly what the contingency plans were in the case of an expected Soviet attack in 1946.

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Book One World War Three 1946

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Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Radar Hunting

Colonel - General Konstantin Virshinin, Commander of the 4th Air Army, seems totally relaxes as he downs a small glass of vodka and lights up a cigarette and sits on the edge of the large desk of his superior. It is late and he has stayed behind after a staff meeting, much to the annoyance of Chief Marshal of Aviation, Alexander Novikov.

"Time to blind RAF Fighter Command Comrade Novikov."

Marshal Novikov is not pleased with his subordinate's familiarity and it shows in his body language, which Virshinin seems to ignore.

"I agree comrade Vershinin, but we must not relent on the pressure of attacking the airfields and keeping them non-functional."
"We can do both comrade."
"I am transferring a hundred fighter squadrons to the South at the end of the month so we must finish and be done with the English soon. You will follow them there and take command. Your old stomping grounds I believe."

Virshinin takes on the persona of a teacher and proceeds to pontificate.

"I suggest that reducing the British radar capabilities will severely weaken their resolve comrade Marshal. We can track and triangulate their radar positions quite well now and the Germans from the GEMA factory, those two Yankee spies comrade Beria keeps hidden, and the captured Amerikosi and British radar sets we sent back from Germany and France have been put to good use. They may be able to see our planes positions with their superior radar, but we can now see where their radar is and attack it. I have arranged for special radar hunting units to be assembled and they are ready for your orders comrade. I suggest that we need to blind the RAF now and be done with it."

Novikov looks straight at Virshinin and slowly replies.

"Bold words Konstantin. Do you have the balls to carry it through?"

Virshinin seems not to notice the warning in Novikov's tone and continues to relax and talk in the familiar as equal to equal.

"The time is right comrade. With the NKVD's information, and knowledge we have gained from captured radar sets, it is time to pluck out the eyes of the British once and for all. That would bring them to their knees I am certain. They are a stubborn people, as the Nazi war criminals discovered to their dismay. Losing their eyes just might prove to be the deciding factor."

Novikov drops his menacing tone for the moment, and seems interested in listening to what Virshinin has to say.

"How many squadrons are needed for your project?"

Once again Virshinin starts to pontificate and walk around Novikov's office like he belongs there.

"There are close to 100 Chain Home stations operating now. Each squadron should be able to bring down the stations at a rate of two a day. We will attack the towers at their base unlike the Germans. The bases of the towers will be obliterated at our leisure thanks to the excellent plan you devised comrade which has devastated their air operations. You have swept the skies clean by taking away their nests comrade. My pilots will enjoy the bombing practice unmolested by either birds of prey or pesky fly swatters shooting at them from the ground.

The Chain Home Low stations are somewhat mobile. We will have to hunt them down and that will take time. They have a very limited range and only look at low altitudes. If they turn them on then we will catch them. If they leave them off then they are of no use. Many of the stations are on the coast and even our old Pe2s can reach them with ease. It will give the old planes one more chance at glory."

Vershinin starts to relax even more.

"I once flew the Pe2 in combat comrade."

Novikov turns away obviously showing distain for what is to follow and starts to light a cigar.

"Yes, I have heard the story many times Colonel-General Vershinin."
Somewhat taken aback Vershinin replies.
"Then I will not bore you again comrade Marshal."
"Good!"

Vershinin quickly recovers his composure.

" If you give me 20 squadrons of ground attack aircraft I will create large gaps in their vision in two weeks and pluck out their eyes in three."

Novikov once again pauses and speaks very slowly and with much emphasis to drive home the point.

"You will have 30 squadrons and two weeks to completely destroy the British radar network."

Vershinin finally realizes that he may have gone too far, and starts to equivocate.

"But comrade marshal, even with 10 more squadrons...in only 2 weeks it is impossible. We would have to train the new squadrons, get more and heavier bombs shipped to the front, our plans would have to be changed, why the staff time alone would..."

Novikov's voice drips with irony as he waves his hand in obvious dismissal and walks across the room talking as he moves and opens the door in anticipation of Virshinin's exit.

"Comrade Stalin will be informed of your promise, and the new deadline. He will expect the results you have proposed. That is all comrade Virshinin."

Marshal Novikov notices that the usual smirk of familiarity does not appear when they lock eyes. Colonel-General Konstantin Virshinin finally understands what he has done. He puts his glass down and without a word turns and leaves the room.

The headquarters of the Fourth Air Army will be very busy for the next two weeks and then possibly not.